Dear Billionaire, I'm Not Your Wife Anymore! - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

I sat quietly in the last row of the conference room, listening to those discussions from the front, appearing calm on the surface but feeling bitter inside.
With my current education and status, being able to enter this laboratory was already taking a risk. In others' eyes, I might just be a "connection hire" who got in through relationships, with no persuasive power whatsoever. Even being mocked, questioned, or treated coldly behind my back was to be expected.
But I couldn't care about these things.
I needed this team's cooperation, and I also needed a strong, reliable project investor.
Just as I was listening intently, I suddenly felt a burning gaze cast upon me from not far away. I instinctively turned my head to look—
Braden.
He had somehow left the conference room and was standing in the corridor taking a phone call, his tall figure leaning against the wall, his expression indifferent, but his eyes directly fixed on me.
I was startled, our gazes colliding, and my heartbeat suddenly tightened. There were too many things in those eyes that I couldn't understand—suppression, complexity, and even... scrutiny.
I frowned, not wanting to have too much involvement with him. After three seconds, I actively looked away.
A few minutes later, I quietly left the conference room with my bag and went to the laboratory office on the tenth floor.
Not long after I sat down, Leo's message came in: "Charlotte, where are you? We're going to organize a small meeting later."
I replied: "I'm at the office here, I'll come over later."
Immediately after, Cole also sent a message: "Charlotte, don't come down yet. Braden seems very interested in our project and hasn't left yet."
My breathing immediately stopped.
Braden wanted to invest? He was interested in our experimental project?
I knew his capabilities and background—if he really wanted to invest, he would definitely be the highest quality investor.
But my heart was filled with resistance.
I didn't want him involved in this project, didn't want him interfering in my life. This experiment was the battlefield I had built for my father and for myself—it didn't belong to him.
I suppressed the irritation in my heart and replied to Cole: "Okay, Cole, please ask for leave for me. I won't go down."
I prayed that this investor wouldn't be him. Even if the funding was less, it didn't matter—as long as I persisted, I would definitely be able to attract more companies to participate later.
Unwilling to stay any longer, I took my car keys and left the experimental building early.
It wasn't until 4:30 in the afternoon that Cole sent another message: "Charlotte, you need to be mentally prepared. Braden has a strong investment intention, and Dr. Colton's side also welcomes his participation."
I gripped my phone, my heart filled with mixed emotions.
I knew that the project ultimately needed capital to drive it. Even if I resisted, I couldn't change the fact that he might decide to invest.
I could only wait for his final decision after evaluating the project.
I put away my distracting thoughts and went to pick up Mia from school on time. As soon as I got home, Mary came up to me: "Madam, Miss Irena is here."
I was stunned and looked up toward the second-floor railing, indeed seeing Braden's sister sitting on the living room sofa.
This sister-in-law who traveled abroad year-round—I didn't know much about her. I had hardly seen her a few times since marriage, only knowing that she was a free-spirited person who was almost unconstrained.
"Isn't Braden home?" Irena asked when she saw me come downstairs.
"He hasn't come back yet," I replied as I came downstairs.
"Auntie! I missed you so much." Mia saw her and rushed into her arms, extremely happy.
"Did you miss Auntie? You wouldn't forget Auntie, would you!" Irena picked up Mia, looking at her with complete adoration, "Do you want to go out for dinner with Auntie tonight?"
"Yes! I want to go out for dinner!" Mia nodded excitedly, her little face lighting up.
"Good, then we'll go eat something delicious tonight." She gently touched Mia's forehead.
I watched their interaction and smiled gently: "Irena, why don't you just eat at home? It's rare that you're here."
"No, I'm taking Mia out for dinner tonight, and we're going to buy toys too." After saying this, she directly picked up Mia and stood up, "We're leaving now."
Although I was somewhat worried, I couldn't stop them: "Mia, be good when you go out with Auntie, okay?"
"I know, Mommy." Mia turned back and gave me a sweet smile.
Before I could say anything more, Irena had already left with Mia.
"Madam, should I ask if the master is coming home for dinner tonight?" Mary came over to ask.
I nodded: "You call and ask."
After a while, Mary came back: "The master said he's eating out."
I wasn't surprised—Irena would definitely contact him.
Just then, my phone rang. It was Clara.
"Hello, Clara?"
"I just got a bonus. Come on, let's go out for a meal!" Her voice was as hearty as always.
I was feeling troubled and needed some fresh air: "Okay, where should we eat? I'll leave now."
"Of course I'm treating you to a luxurious feast!" She laughed and hung up, then sent me the address.
I took a taxi to the high-end Chinese restaurant located on a high floor of the CBD shopping mall and met her at the mall entrance.
From a distance, I saw Clara waving at me. I was about to walk quickly toward her when I suddenly saw a small figure bouncing out from the direction of the mall—
I looked closely, and my heart sank heavily.
Wasn't that Mia?